Cavs shock Celtics in 1st game without LeBron

Thursday

CLEVELAND — LeBron's former team has already done something his new, super team in sunny Miami couldn't: Beat Boston.

CLEVELAND — LeBron's former team has already done something his new, super team in sunny Miami couldn't: Beat Boston.

Playing its first game in seven years without LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers stunned the Celtics 95-87 in their season opener Wednesday night, a win that at least for one night gave local fans reason to believe that life will be OK minus the two-time MVP.

J.J. Hickson scored 21 points, Daniel Gibson added 16 — all in the second half — and the Cavaliers made several big, clutch plays to hold off the Celtics, who defeated James and the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.

Rajon Rondo scored 18, Paul Pierce 13, Ray Allen 12 and Kevin Garnett had 15 rebounds for Boston, which led by 11 points in the third quarter but was outscored 27-14 in the fourth.

Gibson, who missed his first eight shots, made four free throws in the final 17.2 seconds for Cleveland, dealt a devastating blow in July when James announced he was leaving as a free agent. The loss rocked a city that hasn't celebrated a pro sports championship since 1964 and triggered predictions the Cavaliers would slide back among the NBA's bottom dwellers.

Not just yet.

As the final seconds ticked off, Cleveland fans jumped for joy, owner Dan Gilbert pumped his fist and hugged those sitting near him, first-year coach Byron Scott smiled and confetti fell from the ceiling like it did so many times while James was around.

With the score tied 86-all, Cleveland's Anthony Parker drilled a 3-pointer with one tick left on the 24-second shot clock. Boston got a tip-in from Glen Davis, and during a timeout, the officials reviewed Parker's shot and determined it was in fact a 3.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers disagreed, shaking his head and saying "No way." Rivers seemed to be contesting if Parker got the shot off in time. It did appear to take him several seconds to gather himself and shoot.

Allen misfired on Boston's next trip, Pierce missed another and Anderson Varejao made two free throws to put the Cavs up 91-86 with 24 seconds to go.

Rondo's free throw cut it to four, but Gibson made two free throws to make it 93-87. Pierce then missed again, and Gibson put it away with two more free throws, giving the Cavs some sense of revenge after being bumped from the playoffs last season by Boston.

The Cavs played without starting point guard Mo Williams, still working his way back from a groin injury before camp training camp opened. Scott said Williams is "day to day" and wants him to get another few practices before he returns.

Williams played in just one preseason game because of the injury, and missed five days recently to attend his father-in-law's funeral in Mississippi.

Things have changed dramatically since the teams met in the playoffs last season. James is with Miami; former Cavs coach Mike Brown is looking for work after being fired; Shaquille O'Neal and Delonte West swapped wine-and-gold jerseys for green-and-white ones, and Scott returned to coaching after a spin as a TV analyst.

There wasn't a trace of James inside an arena he helped put on the NBA's map. Earlier in the day on a building outside, a giant black-and-white banner depicting Cleveland's skyline was hung in the exact spot where James' iconic image once towered over downtown.

No. 23 is gone, but hardly forgotten. He'll be back on Dec. 2, and Cleveland fans can't wait.

While walking around the city, Rivers received congratulatory handshakes from Cavs fans who thanked him for beating James.

Before the game, Gilbert said he did not regret criticizing James in the hours after the superstar announced he was leaving as a free agent. Gilbert sent out a scathing letter to Cleveland fans, calling James "narcissistic" and "cowardly." Later that night, James told The Associated Press that he felt James quit on the Cavs in Game 5 last season against the Celtics.

Gilbert didn't back off from any of his remarks, and believes the Cavs are a still a playoff team without James.

"This team can certainly make the playoffs and maybe beyond that," he said. "I'm like anybody else. I can't wait to see it. We have some very good players and some very good players coming off the bench. Not a lot of teams have the quality of Antawn Jamison and Daniel Gibson coming off the bench. When you think of it in that sense, and having the kind of quality coach we have, anything can happen."

It already has.

NOTES: Celtics F Jermaine O'Neal fouled out with 9:09 left. ... Aerosmith front man, longtime Celtics fan and new "American Idol" judge Steve Tyler sat courtside with the band's drummer Joey Kramer, who was misidentified as bassist Tom Hamilton on the arena's scoreboard. ... Varejao mimicked one of James' signature chase-down blocks by running down Allen from behind and swatting his layup into the stands.

AP-WF-10-28-10 0216GMT

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Newsletters

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
seacoastonline.com ~ 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service